INEC Releases 10 Results, Suspends Rivers Elections

• PDP wins eight state constituencies, one House seat, APC victorious in one constituency • Wike, Peterside’s security aides in shootout, one killed • Amaechi, governor clash over ‘abducted’ collation officer • Army explains arrest of SSG, police say four dead, 24 apprehended The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released the results of nine state constituencies and one federal constituency in which rerun elections were held in Nigeria’s oil hub, Rivers State, on Saturday, but the commission was forced to suspend the electoral process in all other constituencies in the state where results were not announced due to the widespread violence that marred the elections. However, based on the results released yesterday, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) consolidated its control of the state by emerging victorious in eight of the nine state constituencies and one federal constituency seat, while the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) won one state constituency seat. But as results were announced, the state continued its descent to anarchy as the violent battle for control of the state was exacerbated by the exchange of gunfire between security men in the convoys of the Director General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside, and the Chief of Staff to the Rivers State governor, Mr. Emma Woke, in Port Harcourt yesterday, resulting in the death of Woke’s personal assistant. Sporadic shooting was also reported at the Abonema area in Akuku Toru Council, few kilometers to Port Harcourt, the state capital. This came as Governor Nyesom Wike and the Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi, squared off against each other at the Mile 1 Diobu police station over a collation officer, Mrs. Ekwi Adebisa, who was purportedly abducted Saturday night by the former governor in company of soldiers. Confirming the outcome of the rerun polls, the Director of Voter Education Publicity of INEC, Mr. Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi, informed THISDAY that the results were released in nine state constituencies and one federal constituency in the state. He said PDP won in eight of the state constituencies, while APC won one seat. PDP, he said, also won one federal constituency but did not give the names of the state or federal constituencies in which results were declared. Osaze-Uzzi also revealed that the release of further results were suspended due to reports of violence, attacks and even the deaths of INEC officials and ad hoc personnel in the state. He said all INEC personnel were relocated to Abuja yesterday due to the escalation of violence in Rivers State. Also in a statement yesterday, he said INEC conducted the polls in Rivers State pursuant to the orders of the Court of Appeal, but “rather unfortunately, some of these elections witnessed the disruption of the process, including the barricading of some of the INEC local government offices and Registration Area Centres (RACs) used for the distribution of electoral materials which led to the late commencement of the exercise in some places and consequently, its smooth take off. “Of more serious concern was the level of threats, violence and intimidation of election officials and voters by well armed thugs and miscreants allegedly acting on behalf of some politicians, which marred the elections in some areas. “There were reports of numerous attacks resulting in fatalities, kidnappings, ballot snatching, diversion of officials and materials, amongst others, which necessitated its suspension in 8 local government areas. “Regrettably, such deviant behaviour has continued today (yesterday). Several permanent and ad hoc staff engaged by the commission have been attacked, again resulting in fatalities, while some have been forcibly abducted and taken to unknown destinations. “Under such difficult circumstances, the Returning Officers were only able to collate and declare results in one federal and nine state constituencies where the disruption and malpractices were not so widespread. “Having reviewed the situation, the commission is compelled to suspend all further action concerning the exercise in all the other constituencies in the state pending the receipt of a comprehensive report from its field officials and monitors. “For the avoidance of doubt, it should be noted that the suspension does not affect the constituencies where the exercise has been completed and the results declared by the Returning Officers,” he said. However, unconfirmed results obtained by THISDAY from the various collation centres for 11 state constituencies showed that PDP won 10 constituencies, namely: Akukutoru I (Major Jack), Omuma (Kelechi Wogu), Degema (Farah Dagogo), Ahoada East II (Edison Ehie), Ahoada East I (Martins Manna), Emohua (Sam Ogeh), Akukutoru II (Tonye Alalibo), Obio/Akpor I (Martin Amaewhule), Obio/ Akpor II (Michael Chindah), Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni (Christopher Ahiakwor). The candidate of the APC won in the Opobo/Nkoro state constituency, while Betty Apiafi of the PDP won the Abua Odua/Ahoada East Constituency to the Federal House of Representatives. Speaking on the shootout between the security detail attached to Woke and Peterside, which occurred yesterday evening at the UTC junction, Azikiwe Road, Port Harcourt, Wike told journalists that Peterside, who was the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the last governorship election in the state, had gone to INEC Registration Area Centre (RAC) in Isiokpo, headquarters of Ikwerre Local Government Area and allegedly snatched the election result sheets for the council. According to Wike, Peterside, who was with his running mate, Honourable Asita and the APC state chairman, Dr. Davies Ikanya, were then pursued by Woke, who was the PDP agent for Ikwerre. “The shooting happened because they were chasing them (Peterside and Asita) from Isiokpo,” Wike said. He said when the security detail of Peterside saw that the PDP agent was still following them as they got to the junction leading to his (Peterside’s residence, they opened fire leading to the death of Woke’s aide. But in his own account of the incident, Peterside said it was an attack on his life, adding that he was attacked by gunmen in two sports utility vehicles when he was on his way home from the Port Harcourt International Airport. According to a statement he issued last night, “Two SUVs belonging to Emeka Woke, Nyesom Wike’s Chief of Staff, carrying two unknown gunmen trailed us to UTC Junction and opened fire on my car. “Our car however did a detour to the DSS office gate where we drove to seek refuge, but the unknown gunmen opened fire again at the SSS men on guard. “The exchange of fire between the DSS men and the assailants lasted for more than 30 minutes. This is a very ugly experience but I thank God that my colleagues and I escaped unhurt. http://www.we9ja.tk/forum2_theme_112687761.xhtml?tema=34

Re: INEC Releases 10 Results, Suspends Rivers Elections by kcmichael: 6:49am